Springtime reminds me to balance all parts of myself, the active and the passive, the logical and the intuitive, the conscious and unconscious…and the outer journey along with the inner journey. And while I focus on cleansing and removing toxins from other parts of my life, I remember one of the most important aspects of my Spring cleaning…my oasis, my casa. My home.
It’s your space, your safe place, your domain. Your home should be a place where you feel at ease, an escape from the demands of the outside world. But so often it’s a reflection of how busy our lives have become. And while we make time (rightfully so) for a cleansing of our mind and/or bodies we tend to put our homes on the back burner. It’s time to carve out a healthy place for YOU, thus strengthening your resilience to the daily onslaught of other factors that may impact your health.
We may not be able to control the crazy that’s out in the world but there is something we can do within our own home. One way to deal with daily stress is to truly turn your home into a sanctuary and I have some tips you can use.
5 Easy Ways to Remove Toxins from Your Home
Remove Your Shoes
Most household dirt, pesticides and bacteria come in on your shoes. Go barefoot or wear slippers. I’ve started picking up cheap slippers whenever I see them so that I can add to my basket of slippers I keep near my door for guests.
Keep It Fresh
This is a big one! Keep your windows and doors open as much as possible to ventilate and let that fresh Spring air in! Use green plants as natural air detoxifiers. Use fresh flowers or bowls of herbs like mint, rosemary and/or sage to add a pleasant fragrance to rooms. Have your air ducts and vents cleaned with non toxic cleaners. Get a portable air cleaner/purifier, especially for the bedrooms.
Make The Switch
Switch from the standard household cleaning products to cleaner and greener ones. These don’t damage your health or the environment’s as much and work as well as the mass marketed ones. You can also use ingredients you have around the house, for instance, vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains.
(Visit our boutique for some effective and safe options by Caldrea)
A Cleaner, Greener YOU!
Replace your self-care products with less toxic and chemical free options. Deodorant, toothpaste, cosmetics, skincare, hair products, nail polish and perfumes are often loaded with toxins. Your skin is your largest organ AND also a detoxing and absorbing organ at that. If you haven’t already- it’s truly time to start thinking about everything you put in AND on your body!!
(Set up a consultation with one our pearl professionals to learn more about detoxing your self-care routine)
Filter Your Water
Get a water filter. More than 700 chemicals have been identified in drinking water. Filtering your tap water is better than drinking bottled water. You cut down on all those wasted plastic bottles too.
While all of these are great toxin removers, no amount of environmental toxins are as important as emotional toxicity. You can do all the above, but if your house is full of anger, resentment, jealousy, unhappiness and a lack of love, compassion and forgiveness, the house will remain toxic.
5 Ways to Fill Your Home with Positive Energy
Color Me Happy!
Every color brings a different energy to a space. Yellows usually add radiance, greens spur growth and flexibility, reds welcome prosperity, and oranges bring warmth and cheer. Blues leave you feeling tranquil and relaxed. Start with your favorite colors.
Banish Bad Memories
Say buh-bye to photos associated with painful times, clothing from parts of your life you don’t want to dwell on, furniture that you have no use for…all of it can be donated if it’s not serving you. Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Art of Tidying Up, suggests you shouldn’t live with anything that doesn’t spark joy when touched. I love this philosophy - this practice can help you pare down your belongings to only the things that you absolutely love!
Get Cozy
The modern world has enough hard edges. Studies show that touching soft objects increases our sense of comfort and security. Don't be afraid to add a blanket here and there, or soft pillows and shag carpeting - it'll refresh your home and add more comfort and bliss to your routine.
If the Music Is Good...Dance
So simple, yet very few people play music in the background of their home during a typical day. Music has therapeutic qualities and has been shown to increase self-esteem and foster healthy relationships. Also singing aloud and/or dancing it out has shown to reduce stress…in me anyways.
Everybody Feng Shui Tonight
If you don't feel safe and comfortable in your home, your furniture placement might be to blame. Feng Shui is first and foremost about comfort and safety. Make sure that the largest piece of furniture in any room is in a position where you can see the door. If the sofa or head of the bed is against the same wall as the door, you can't see who is coming in. This creates a sense of vulnerability.
